New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-04-27
Echoes From The War.
How the General Managed 1t.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.

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outside OF my war experience, and for
that reason should be very careful
IN satisfying myself that it is anthem
tic.
It was related to me by one OF the
actors in it, whose word is sufficient
for all who know him. He was at the
time a captain in one OF the New York
cavalry regiments, and an Assistant
Adjutant General to the military
scommandant at Washington. He does
mot court publicity OF this kind, but
will not object to the mention OF his
name. It is Colonel Z. e. Ellsworth,
.of Lockport, New York.
Such an incident as it was probably
never occurred again in the war-or
before it. When it was first repeated
ito me it struck me as being the oldest
and at the same time about the hap
piest thing connected with the war
that I had ever heard. When it has
been read the reader will no doubt
think that it is worthy OF a place in this
series.
Before beginning the story, I feel
that the enjoyment of it's perusal will
sbe greatly enhanced by some informa-
zion which may not be needful to all
ats readers, as to who the chief actor
was.
James Wadsworth. brigadier general
-of volunteers, was one OF natures true
,noblemen. When the war broke out
sale was already agray- haired man. He
was very wealthy, living on the broad
acres in the beautiful Genesee valley,
.of the state Of New York which had de-
sscended to him from his fathers. He
lookup arms instantly for his country.
FOR q time he was military command
ant Of ashinat on; then, in command
-sof q division of the First Army Corps,
he took the place Of the gallant Rey-
nolds when he fell on the first day at
Gettysburg. Less than a year later
he fell at the head of his division in
the Wilderness mortally wounded. He
was brave as q lion, gentle as a wom-
san. There were not many like him in
nigh command. The man who could
conceive and execute the plan
which our sketch describes, to save
tthe honor of a humble family, and
that at a time when great public events
were crowding upon everybody in au-
thority-such man must have had
the woman's and the warriors heart
wonderfully blended.
All honor to his memory.
The story will lose by the telling I'M.
less it is put in the language Of him.
sWhO narrated it to me.
So let him speak in the first person.
1t was late in the spring OF 1862; 7
believe it was in the month that came
i between the battle of FAIR Oaks and
sthe> beginning OF the Seven Days Bat.
ties on the Peninsula. Every body's
attention was turned that way. and
the whole nation was full OF anxiety
ito hear what was happening, and
what was about to happen there.
Nearer by, down on the Rappahan-
mock, General Mcdowell had an army
corps or q division, which was expect
ssed TO look after the safety of Washing
.5on
The military commandant Of
Washington and it's defenses was Cen.
eral Wadsworth
The principal business OF such an.
officer was supposed to be to see that
the city was we'll governed and pro-.
tected, and that military offenders
were properly taken care of.
In fact, the principal business that
I'VE had to do at headquarters in those.
days was to deny passes to citizens
who wanted to go to the front.
We, simply acted under peremptory
orders from the Secretary OF War. He
said, mo passes,'' and we had to
sdeny them one and all.
But it seemed to me as though
Washington was filed with people.
front They thronged the office.
wheresI sat for Several hours each day
as Assistant Ad jutant General, the Off
clal n1outhpiece OF the military COM
nand ant.. They made up more than
one-halfof the crowd that came there,
day alter day They camein all shapes.
rand ways. Some were bold and clam.
eorous;; some were coaXine; some tear,
aul and pleading some disposed to be
insulting No matter; one and ali
had the same answer There could be
no pass; no civilians could go to the
front. 4 ss3 81 4 Il, d sg M
twas easy enough to say no, and
TIN peremptory way, to the suffers,
the adventurers, the idle sight-sears,
& the gamblers. and even the brazen
women who thought they had some
business with McCleltall's or Nc
iDoWell's army.
But the wives, the mot hers, and the
children, who begged with tears in
their eyes to be allowed to go down to.
3 see their wounded orS,lying dear ones,
). who we're too far gone to be brought
10 the Nv shington hos ais give.
:1snch as these q firm but gentle refusal,